The Virginia War Memorial in Richmond is seeking entries for its Virginia War Memorial 2024 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest. The annual competition is open to all Virginia middle and high school age public, private, and homeschooled students. One winner will be selected from among all middle school entries (grades 6-8) and one from high school entries (grades 9-12).
The essay topic for the 2024 competition is “A Virginian Who Served in The Military who Inspires Me.” Students may consider a member of their family, of their community, or any Virginian who served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, anywhere in the world, from World War II to present day as their subject.
The two students who write the winning essays will each receive a prize package courtesy of McDonald’s Restaurants of Richmond and Hampton Roads and the nonprofit Virginia War Memorial Foundation. The student winners will also be invited to come to Richmond to read aloud their essays and participate in the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond on Monday, November 11, 2024.
Essays should be 500-750 words in length and utilize interviews and primary sources whenever possible. Students are encouraged to contact Sylvia Marshall, Virginia War Memorial Archivist (Sylvia.Marshall@dvs.virginia.gov) for additional resources regarding Virginia military veterans if they wish. Entries will be judged on clarity of thought, adherence to the contest theme and guidelines, proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Detailed information regarding rules, guidelines and how to enter are available online at https://vawarmemorial.org/learn/contests-scholarships/essay/.
All entries must be submitted to the Virginia War Memorial website by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, October 20. For additional information or questions, please contact Elizabeth Oglesby, the
Memorial’s Education Outreach & Programs Manager, at Elizabeth.Oglesby@dvs.virginia.gov or by calling 804-786-9700.
